African Disability Rights Yearbook Volume 1 2013
Edited by Charles Ngwena, Ilze Grobbelaar‐du Plessis, Helene Combrinck and Serges Djoyou Kamga
2014
ISSN: 2311-8970
Pages: 385
Print version: Available
Electronic version: Free PDF available
About the publication
The African Disability Rights Yearbook breaks new ground in disability scholarship. Coming in the wake of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is the first peer-reviewed journal to focus exclusively on disability as human rights on the African continent. It provides an annual forum for scholarly analysis on issues pertaining to the human rights of persons with disabilities. It is also a source for country-based reports as well as commentaries on recent developments in the field of disability rights in the African region.
Preface
This is the first issue of the African Disability Rights Yearbook (ADRY). Drawing inspiration from the European Yearbook on Disability Law, it is the first publication of its kind that focuses on Africa. It aims to bring into prominence an area traditionally neglected by both African governments and academics. Following in the wake of the adoption of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, it is the first peer-reviewed journal to focus exclusively on disability as human rights on the African continent. The Yearbook, which is projected to appear annually, is set out in three sections. Section A contains academic articles: Section B consists of country-based research, charting recent developments on disability rights legislation, case law and policy developments in selected African states; and Section C deals with relevant developments in the African Union (AU) and African sub-regional organisations.
The 2013 Yearbook aims to set out the situation as at 31 December 2012. The publication of the Yearbook in 2013 is a milestone in the engagement on the rights of persons with disabilities by the Centre for Human Rights, Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria, under whose auspices this publication was conceived and is being produced. It marks a highlight in the efforts taken by the Centre over the last few years to bring more academic attention to the rights of persons with disabilities in Africa. These efforts have only been possible with the support of the Open Society foundations, in particular, Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa (OSISA).
Over the last years, OSISA has collaborated with the Centre for Human Rights, University of Pretoria, to strengthen the teaching and research in law faculties in the Southern Africa on disability rights. The collaboration consists of the following elements:
(a) Efforts are made to assist in the building of capacity of law faculties in the region, through the attendance of the LLM (Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa) with a focus on disability rights by staff members from these law faculties, The staff members subsequently return to their faculties, institute and develop teaching on disability rights, and institutionalise faculty-based activities and ‘centres’ around disability rights.
So far, the following faculties have participated: Universidade Eduardo Mondlane, Mozambique (Faculdade de Direito); the University of Botswana; the University of Malawi (Chancellor College, Faculty of Law); University of Namibia; Midlands State University, Zimbabwe (Faculty of Law); University of Zambia; and University of Dodoma (Tanzania); University of Namibia.
These faculties/centres have the responsibility/mandate to research on disability rights; promote awareness and sensitise key stakeholders in the population about the rights of persons with disabilities and the existing legal framework; elaborate position papers and advocate for particular legal reforms; keep record of/identify and engage in litigation of selected cases pertaining to the violation of the rights of persons with disabilities; and provide legal advice to persons with disabilities.
(b) The Centre presents a one-week intensive short course on disability rights to build capacity and to disseminate information on disability rights more broadly in Africa. This course is attended by participants from all over the continent.
(c) Together, the participating faculties are developing a curriculum for the teaching of an undergraduate course on disability rights at law schools in the region.
(d) Academic work on and awareness about disability rights is stimulated, in particular, through the publication of this Yearbook, an academic conference, and a first Southern African Disability Rights Moot Court Competition.
This Yearbook is the accomplishment of many. It has been a project long in planning and preparation, and time consuming in execution. The publication is the endproduct of collaborations between the Centre and numerous partners, in particular (UWC).
A very sincere and profound word of thanks goes to the following: The four editors: the convening editor, Prof Charles Ngwena, who joined the Centre for Human Rights last year; he worked with Dr Ilze Grobbelaar-Du Plessis (UP); Prof Helene Combrinck (UWC) and Dr Serges Djoyou Kamga (UNISA) as co-editors. It is only their dedication and devotion that has made this publication possible. Prof Ngwena was not only the convening editor, but also the editor in charge of Part A. He bore the brunt of the responsibility to keep the project going, and to inspire and lead all involved towards the ever-approaching deadline. Drs Grobbelaar-Du Plessis and Serges Djoyou Kamga took responsibility for Part B, and Prof Combrinck for Part C.
They each sacrificed enormously in terms of time and energy, in order to get to this end product.
Thanks to all contributors, and all reviewers of contributions, for dedicating themselves to this thankless task.
Kate Painting acted as a most appreciated editorial assistant. She meticuoulsy followed up references, guaranteed consistency in style, and ensured felicitous language use. At the Centre, Thuto Moratuoa Hlalele, Yolanda Booyzen and Kevashinee Pillay also provided logistical and other support.
The Yearbook is published by Pretoria University Law Press (PULP), based at the Faculty of Law, University of Pretoria. The patient and professional contribution of Lizette Hermann is much appreciated.
We also thank the members of the advisory board, who agreed to assist with the policy direction, review of manuscripts and lending credibility and lustre to this Yearbook by associating themselves with this endeavour. The Yearbook is very fortunate to have representation from all corners of the globe, including individuals and institutions at the leading edge of disability rights research, training and teaching.
Lastly, to the Open Society Foundation – and specifically OSISA – and its staff: Many thanks in particular to Louise Olivier, for her confidence, inspiration and consistent support, which took the Centre and me personally along an exciting and challenging new road; and to Louise Ehlers and Patricia Mwanyisa, who came on board later. Other Open Society staff also inspired and played important roles along the way.
In line with the right of access to information and knowledge, this Yearbook is accessible freely as a free full downloadable document on the Centre’s website www.chr.up.ac.za
On behalf of all those involved, and of the Centre, I wish to express the hope that this Yearbook will soon come to be regarded as an indispensable tool to understand and chart legislative and policy developments on disability rights in Africa, and that it will contribute to bridge the gap between the discourse of rights and its practical application and actual realisation.
Frans Viljoen
Director, Centre for Human Rights
About the editors:
Charles Ngwena is Professor, Department of Constitutional Law and Legal Philosophy, Faculty of Law, University of the Free State, South Africa.
Ilze Grobbelaar‐du Plessis is a senior lecturer and holds the degrees BIuris LLB LLM LLD from the University of Pretoria.
Helene Combrinck is Associate Professor at the Centre for Disability Law and Policy, University of the Western Cape.
Serges Djoyou Kamgais is Senior Lecturer at TMALI (UNISA).
Table of Contents
PREFACE
EDITORIAL
SECTION A: ARTICLES
- 1. The right to primary education of children with disabilities in Malawi: A diagnosis of the conceptual approach and implementation
Enoch MacDonnell Chilemba - 2. Forgotten or included? Disabled children’s access to primary education in Cameroon
Serges Djoyou Kamga - 3. Choice, support and inclusion: Implementing article 19 of the CRPD in Kenya
Elizabeth Kamundia - 4. A critical analysis of the legal and institutional frameworks for the realisation of the rights of persons with disabilities in Zimbabwe
Esau Mandipa - 5. Prospects and practices for CRPD implementation in Africa
Janet Lord and Michael Ashley Stein - 6. ‘Nothing about CRPD monitoring without us’: A case study on the involvement of the disability movement in policy-making in Zambia
Magdolna Birtha - 7. Western Cape Forum For Intellectual Disability v Government of the Republic of South Africa: A case study of contradictions in inclusive education
Charles Ngwena - 8. Towards an effective litigation strategy of disability rights: The Zambian experience
Likando Kalaluka
SECTION B: COUNTRY REPORTS
- Cameroon
Maître Christophe Tchudjo and Joseph Ombe - Côte d’Ivoire
Pierre Olivier Lobe - Ghana
Esther A Gyamfi - Mozambique
Emerson Casimiro Uassuzo Lopes - Namibia
Ruusa Ntinda - Nigeria
Ngozi C Umeh and Ramola Adeola - Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC)
Pierre Olivier Lobe - South Africa
Ilze Grobbelaar-du Plessis and Chazanne Grobler - Tanzania
Peter Josiah Shughuru
SECTION C: REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
- Disability rights in the African regional human rights system during 2011 and 2012
Helene Combrinck - Making progress: The African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child and the rights of children with disabilities
Lorenzo Wakefield - Disability rights in the sub-regional economic communities during 2011 and 2012
Lucyline N Murungi, Aquinaldo Mandlate and Benedicta Armah
Keywords: